SERMON XVIII.

CORNELIUS AND HIS COMPANY.

ACTS x. 33.

"Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God."

THERE are few individuals whose history is recorded in the sacred volume, more worthy of the admiration, and close imitation of the Christian, than Cornelius the Centurion, by whom the words of the text were addressed to the apostle Peter; although few were naturally placed in circumstances more unfavourable to the reception of divine truth. An officer in the Roman army, quartered in Judea, for the purpose of keeping the Jews in subjection, early nurtured in all the abominations of heathen idolatry, an idolatry tending to eradicate every be

nevolent affection, and to harden the heart, compelled to hold intercourse with characters the most abandoned, he was little likely to become the subject of serious impressions. Yet his residence in Judea had been singularly blessed to his spiritual improvement. He had been led to renounce his idolatrous errors, and been brought to the knowledge of the one true God. He had not, however, submitted to the observance of any part of the ceremonial law. He was, therefore, still regarded as an alien from the commonwealth of Israel.

Nor was Cornelius the only officer of the Roman army of whom honourable mention is made in the sacred volume. We read of a centurion on whose servant our blessed Lord wrought a miracle, and whose conduct was peculiarly distinguished for humility, faith, kindness, and generosity, for he confessed himself unworthy to receive Jesus at his house; he expressed his belief that the Saviour's power could not be affected or diminished, though at a distance from the object in whose behalf it was to be exercised; he testified a laudable anxiety for his servant's recovery, and at his own expense he had built a synagogue. We read of a centurion, who on witnessing the convulsions of nature at the crucifixion, declared his conviction that Jesus was the Son of God; and another

individual of the same same rank showed many favours to St. Paul, and the other prisoners on the voyage, wherein they suffered shipwreck, and continued his kindness to the apostle during his residence at Rome.

Whilst in the act of worship-for it was honourably recorded of him that he was " a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house," and that "his prayers and his alms went up for a memorial before God"-Cornelius was favoured with a heavenly vision. A celestial messenger commanded him to send to Joppa for the apostle Peter, who would more clearly make known to him the great truths of religion; that apostle having been instructed by a similar divine visitation, and in some measure prepared for the centurion's summons, immediately proceeded to Cesarea, where he found Cornelius and his friends awaiting his arrival-" All present before God to hear all the things commanded him of God."

Emerged from the deep-rooted prejudices of his countrymen, Peter began to address the company. Taught by the vision of the sheet let down from heaven, to "call nothing common or unclean;" and relinquishing the notions which he entertained, even after the effusion of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, respecting the character and purposes of the Divine Being,

and the limited extension of the blessings of the gospel, he immediately declared his firm conviction, "that God is no respecter of persons;" that not among the Jews only, but that in every nation, "He that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of him." That the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, was the great sovereign disposer of all events-the father and the friend of man. He bore his decided testimony to the great fundamental truths of the gospel, showing that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the Christ, the only Saviour of sinners, and directed his audience to the blood shed upon Calvary for the remission of all their sins. He appears to have held back nothing that was expedient for them to know, but, as a faithful preacher, to have fully declared to them the great doctrines of the gospel.

While the apostle thus spake, the Holy Ghost fell upon them who were there present, Gentiles as well as Jews, and they were admitted by the sacrament of baptism to the full privileges of the Christian faith. What an interesting subject here presents itself for our meditation, In the open admission of these converts, we behold, fully realized, the gracious truth, that in Christ Jesus "there is neither Jew nor Gentile, Barbarian, Scythian, bond or free;" that the partition wall is for ever broken down; that there being

no respect of persons with God, the living streams of the gospel in all their purifying and invigorating efficacy are freely offered "without money and without price;" and that he who hath made of one blood all the kindreds of the earth, (for we are all his offspring,) hath graciously purposed, that out of every kindred and nation, a people shall be gathered to himself. This little assembly may indeed fairly be regarded as the first fruits of that glorious harvest to be gathered into the garner of the Lord; that harvest unto which the fields are now ripe; and it is delightful to trace the method employed by Jehovah for publishing his Son's gospel to the Gentiles, and testifying that it was designed for their benefit, as well as that of Israel his chosen.

The words of the text are peculiarly deserving of our attention, as setting forth the spirit with which we should listen to the declarations of the word of God, that spirit with which we should enter on the solemn services of the sanctuary. The minister of Christ has a message of the utmost importance to deliver. Though not endowed with the same miraculous gifts as St. Peter, "he is yet to speak as becomes the oracles of God;" he is yet, though in a humbler degree, an ambassador for his Divine Master, and he is comforted with the assurance that his Divine